5c Chocolate (255). Mint
N.H., deep shade, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with
1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image) 
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint
N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced
marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 6-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
The First Bureau Issue of 1894 was a rough start for the government printers given the task of producing postage stamps after the American Bank Note Company contract expired. After quickly altering the 1890 Issue dies by adding triangles, the Bureau started printing stamps on unwatermarked paper. The quality controls for perforating stamps were obviously not in place for the Bureau's first issue, and the stamps released are notorious among collectors for poor centering and unpunched perf holes.
Although the demand for other values was far greater, the 6c was actually the first value released by the Post Office Department (announced for July 1894, EDU 8/11/1894). Other values followed, beginning in September to as late as March 1895 (the 8c). Reviewing auction records of Scott 256, it is obvious that even when judged against normal standards, this stamp is exceptionally choice. Judged by the standards of the 1894 Issue, it is nothing less than a miraculous and fortuitous fluke of quality. We could find only one other (Sale 872, lot 706) that rivals this Gem.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Dark Green (258).
Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, wide margins, fresh and
Extremely Fine, difficult to find with such wide margins and in such
exceptional condition, with 2005 P.F. certificate
(Image) 
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint
N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, unusually wide margins for this
difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
In our description of lot 203 in this sale, the 1890 counterpart to the 15c 1894 Issue offered here, we pointed out the extraordinary beauty of this issue's design and deep blue color. The same comments apply to this First Bureau issue, with the added footnote regarding the notoriously poor quality of the Bureau's early effort in perforating stamps. This stamp stands out as one of the finest 15c 1894's in Mint N.H. condition.
With 1999 and 2004 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95) (Image)
50c Orange (260). Original
gum, perfectly framed with enormous even margins all around, brilliant
color and sharp impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A FANTASTIC STAMP.
The stamp offered here has huge margins and centering comparable to the example offered in our Sale 829 (lot 582). That stamp, which was in Mint N.H. condition, realized $17,000 hammer.
With 2000 P.F. certificate and 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo) (Image)
$1.00 Black (261).
Original gum, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression, Jumbo
marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE I 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1984 and 2005 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo) (Image)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II
(261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression,
choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1995 and 2001 P.F. certificates (Image)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II
(261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression,
almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.S.E. certificate (Image)
$2.00 Bright Blue (262).
Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade on crisp paper, unusually choice
centering with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE SERIES TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
Ex Floyd. With 1982 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)
$5.00 Dark Green (263).
Original gum, barest trace of hinging, rich color on bright paper, extra
wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS A RARE STAMP THAT IS SELDOM SEEN WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING.
With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)
1c Blue (264). Mint N.H.,
rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem
(Image)